Portable collapsible patio structure



Oct. 10, 1961 D. KRONHAUS' ET AL 3,

PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PATIO STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet1 FIG. I.

INVENTORS DINA KRONHAUS LU BA M. LIFSCHUTZ BYWM V M ATTORNEYS Oct. 10,1961 D. KRONHAUS ETAL 3,00

PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PATIO STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet2 FIG. 3.

I I I2 INVENTORS DINA KRONHAUS LUBAMLIFSCHUTZ ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,003,198 PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PATIO STRUCTURE Dina Kronhaus,4012 Shelbum Court, and Luba M. Lifschutz, 2351 Coral St., both of LosAngeles, Calif. Filed Nov. 18, 1955, Ser. No. 547,655 1 Claim. (Cl.20-2) This invention has to do with structures for providing shelter,particularly of a type designed for persons seeking protection from thesun.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved type ofcollapsible shelter of a portable nature which is particularly suitablefor use in the patio area of a home to shade occupants from the sun.

A further object is to. provide a portable shelter which is of simpleconstruction and can be readily collapsed for storage in a garage orother available place when not 1n use.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which canalso be used as a clothesline support and as a means of shielding theclothesline and garments thereon from view.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and thefollowing description.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a device embodying theinvention, the device being shown extended or expanded for use;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 as on line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the structure partial-ly collapsed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view of one end of thestructure as on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an upper end of apost construction at one end of a side frame;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view, partially broken away, showing thedevice in use as a clothesline support;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of a modified structure.

More particularly describing the invention, we provide a structurewhich, in general, includes a pair of side frames, designated 11 and 12,a roof, designated 13, and

side frame connecting means, designated 14 (in FIG. 3). Each side frameincludes a post at each end disposed vertically. The posts on frame 11are marked 15 and 16, respectively, and those on the other side frame,marked 15' and 16, respectively. The posts are connected by any suitabletype of longitudinally extending frame structure, and we show at thebottom: portion of each side frame a latticework, designated 17. At theupper end of each side frame is a beam, numbered 18 on frame 11, andnumbered 13 on the other side frame. To make the structure easilyportable, a large caster 19 is provided at each end of each side frame.

The two side frames are adapted to be connected by means of a pair ofbridging levers, designated 20 and 21. Bridging lever 20 is pivotallymounted at 20" on the post 15'. The other bridging lever is pivotallymounted upon the post 15 at 23. Each of the bridging levers carries acircular projection or stud for reception slidahly between guide rails26 mounted on each of the posts 16, 16', the guide rails being spacedoutwardly and parallel to the outer sides of the posts by means of themounting 3,003,198 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 blocks 28. The free ends ofthe levers are slidably received between the guide rails and the postsand are retained for movement along the guide rails by their studs 25.

With the construction described, it will be apparent that the two sideframes may be collapsed to lie parallel substantially in engagement witheach other or they may be expanded or extended to the position in whichthey are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows the parts, in anintermediate or semi-collapsed position. In order to secure the bridginglevers 20 and 21 in the position shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, we provide aremovable stop pin 31 in each post 16, 16'. For the purpose of bracingthe structure in the extended or expanded posit-ion, we provide a pairof diagonal braces 35 at each end of the structure. These areindividually hingedly mounted at 36 on the posts as best shown in FIG.2, and when in use fit into notches 37 in the bridging levers. Suitablehook and eye means 38 and 39 can be provided for detachably securing theparts.

We provide the aforementioned roof 13 which may comprise a rectangularpanel 40 hingedly mounted along one margin at 41 to the longitudinalbeam 19. The body 42 of the panel may be of Fiberglas reinforced plasticor other suitable material. When not in use and with the partscollapsed, the roof panel is allowed to hang from the hinges between theside frames, as shown in FIG. 3. However, with the parts extended orexpanded for use, the edge portion 45 of the roof panel is supported onthe beam 18 by means of two or more roof support pins 46, received andmovable in bores 47 in member 18.

The stop or securing pins 31 and the roof support pins- 46 may each beretained by keepers in the form of a string or chain 50 attached theretoand secured to an adjacent portion of the frame by a tack or nail 51.

For convenience in seating occupants we show each side frame providedwith a bench-type folding seat. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2,and 6, this comprises a seat member 54 which is hingedly supported atits rear margin by hinges 55 for downwardly swinging movement. Thehinges are secured to a frame member 56. One or more legs 57 arehingedly secured at 58 to the under side of the seat member 54 and, whenthe parts :are collapsed, the legs lie against the under surface ofmember 54 and when the latter is swung down to lie adjacent beside theframe the leg or legs are received in a recess 58 in the side frame.

We also contemplate that the patio support structure can serve as aclothesline and for this purpose we provide each of the posts at eachend of the frame with a horizontal bore 60 to receive a clotheslinesupport bar 61 which is removably mounted in the bores as shown in FIGS.8 and 9. One of the bars may be provided with a radially projectinghandle 63 to provide leverage for turning the bar and tighteningclotheslines 65 extending between the two bars. The handle 63 isretained in tightened position by a pin 67 receivable in any one ofselected pin-receiving bores 68.

When the structure is used for the drying of the clothes, the roof panelmay be swung down and it thus acts as a shield on one side to hideclothes on the line from view on one side.

Although we have shown and described a preferred form of our invention,we contemplate that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the annexed claims. For example, in FIG. 10 we show amodification wherein the two side frames, designated 11A and 11B, areconnected at each end by a pair of bridging levers, designatedindividually and 76. These are pivotally connected at their inner endsat 78 and are each pivotally mounted at their outer ends on the frames,at 75' and 76', respectively. Suitable braces 35A can be provided. Bydetaching the braces 35A the structure can be collapsed, the levers 75and 76 pivoting downwardly.

We claim:

In a collapsible patio shelter, a pair of side frames each including avertical post at each end, a first bridging lever pivotally mounted atone end at the upper end of the post of one frame for movement about ahorizontal axis, a second bridging lever similarly mounted on a post atthe opposite end of the other frame, vertical guideway means on each ofthe other posts at the other ends of said side frames, said guidewaymeans comprising a pair of rails in parallel spaced relation mounted onthe post spaced outwardly of the surface thereof, each of said levershaving its other end mounted in and for movement along the guidewaymeans of a post on the other side frame whereby said structure may becollapsible to have said side frames lie adjacent each other or extendedto have the same laterally spaced by the length of the said levers, saidbridging levers each having its said other end received between saidrails and the post and having a projection slideably received betweenthe rails, and means at the upper ends of said guideway means forreleasably anchoring said levers against pivotal movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS121,371 Hyde Nov. 28, 1871 146,087 Miller Dec. 30, 1873 1,061,547Kennedy et al. May 13, 1913 1,404,485 Shellady Jan. 24, 1922 1,424,026Miller July 25, 1922 1,454,386 Higham May 8, 1923 2,053,789 Hardy Sept.8, 1936 2,431,933 Hartmann Dec. 2, 1947 2,592,610 Schumaker Apr. 15,1952

